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“Do I get to ride in an airplane?”
“Of course.”
“Then, yes. I’ve never got to ride in an airplane before.”
“You’ll love it.”
I unconsciously frowned at my son. Such a little conspirator. As I stood near the pristine kitchen island, I learnt that my fate had been decided by Declan. I still wasn’t sure about this whole thing, but my little boy looked so content. Maybe I was being unfair, subjecting him to hardship by taking him on the run while a man like Declan was more than happy to shelter and love us.
Maybe I should have a little faith in Declan and let him handle this problem in the manner he saw fit.
Maybe I should have a little faith in us.
Declan examined my reaction. “What do you think, Jessie? You haven’t said a word to me since the motel.”
I wanted to say that I didn’t want to see Declan’s beautiful face being mutilated by my ex. But my boy looked so joyous. He’d be sleeping in a clean place, well fed, protected and secure. “I honestly don’t know what to say,” I confided.
Declan looked pissed again. He must think I had no faith in him. Guilt seized me in its fervent grip.
Declan started to say something when Braden cut in. “We have a problem.” Declan’s gaze went straight to the security monitor. A bunch of suit-clad men were approaching the front and back gates. I recognised one of them.
Lorenzo.
My heart dropped to my guts. “We have to call the po
lice. Call nine-one-one.”
Unexpectedly, Declan smiled. “No need. This is the showdown I’ve been waiting for.”
“Are you mad?” I dropped my purse and bags. I snatched his arm and shook him. “This is no joke, Declan. You have to call the police.” My eyes scanned the kitchen. I saw a cordless phone by the sink. I would have used my own cell phone, but I had discarded it when we were on the run so Declan couldn’t track us.
“Calm down, Jessie.” Declan grabbed my arm. “You and Bobby need to get into the panic room. Braden!”
Braden herded Bobby in front of him as Declan dragged me through the long hallway and into a master bedroom. He pushed a keypad near the closet. Suddenly, one side of the wall moved, sliding aside, revealing a thick steel door. It looked like a bank’s vault door with a sophisticated, wheeled lock mechanism and LCD display. Declan punched some numbers on its keypad. Unceremoniously, he shoved me and my son inside.
The inside was quite spacious, as big as a walk-in closet. One side of the wall was plastered with half a dozen monitors, displaying simultaneous live feeds from around the house.
“You stay here,” Declan said to me. “Wait until everything is settled.”
“But—”
Declan slammed the door in my face.
“God damn it,” I screamed, kicking the door. It was no use, of course. But I felt like kicking and screaming anyway. How could Declan be so foolish? I knew he wanted to play the knight in shining armour, but what he had chosen to do was incredibly stupid. Did Declan even own a gun? How would he defend himself against a monster like Lorenzo? Braden and Curran were also in the house. Those sweet, innocent young men. Scary Joe’s minions would turn them into pulp.
“Mommy?”
I whirled around. Bobby was standing next to the monitors. He chewed his lip, looking serious.
“Look!” He pointed.
On the screens, I saw Declan and his brothers retreat into what looked like a home office. Braden left the door wide open, as if he was inviting Lorenzo and his goons in. On the other screen, I saw Scary Joe abandon his attempt to break the door in when he found out it was unlocked. Lorenzo and his men swarmed in.
My heart pounded so fast that I felt light-headed. On one side of the monitor, I saw a phone. I quickly yanked it off the wall and pressed nine-one-one. I got a dial tone, but it suddenly died. My eyes skated to the screen. In Declan’s office, he looked up at the camera and shook his head slightly. Declan had killed the outside connection.
What the hell?
How can he be so reckless? That damn idiot! Stupid! Son of a…
